Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

Influencer by Adam Cesare

7 reviews

mepearce9's review against another edition

3.5

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Sexual assault, Suicide

lochnessvhs's review against another edition

3.75

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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It was really good and in a way I couldn't put it down, but it also made me deeply uncomfortable. I didn't like any of these characters in any way. It was truly like looking at a grisly traffic accident and then feeling ashamed of yourself.

CW for EXTREME animal cruelty (a bird and a cat). It doesn't happen often but when it does it's as bad as it can be. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting

Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, Gun violence, Blood, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent

ivykennerauthor's review against another edition

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Violence, Car accident, Murder, Outing, Toxic friendship

goodolmc's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Toxic friendship

Moderate: Sexual content, Mass/school shootings, Gaslighting

Minor: Gun violence, Homophobia, Suicide, Vomit, Islamophobia

chezler24's review against another edition

4.0

dark sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Cesare has shown us that YA horror can be as punchy as adult horror! Influencer is an unhinged wild ride depicting just how far people will go to follow their favorite influencer. The book opens with a home invasion scene and does not let up. I thought it was neat we were able to flip back and forth between the pov of Aaron/the Speaker and Crystal. I feel like most things would have our villain appear as this omniscient/omnipresent entity (which Aaron would like to portray); however, having the ability to hear his thoughts showed how tenuous his grasp of power and control was. While I do think the pacing could have been tweaked here or there (e.g., showing two of the characters becoming pawns of the Speaker or the ending sequence), I was hooked and enjoyed every second of this wild story (even the sections that made me squirm). 

Check trigger warnings before you dive in. Certain scenes can definitely be a turn-off for some individuals. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual content, Blood, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Outing, Alcohol

Minor: Homophobia, Islamophobia, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia

shereadytoread's review against another edition

4.5

dark tense

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This is a book that proves YA horror can be just as horrific as adult horror. It starts with a bang of a cold open and then we see it unfold. Something I loved about this book is there are no simple characters. All of the teens are complicated and doubt themselves and their place within their friend groups and lives. We never get the self-assured final girl, but one whose fear doesn’t stop her from doing what needs to be done. There are awkward missteps and moments that felt very true to the high school experience! 

I really liked having the perspective of the villain and heroine though out the story. This is not a book that shies away from violence or toned down the serious topics. But it felt purposeful and not gratuitous. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder

Moderate: Drug use, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Gun violence, Vomit

wishwoosh's review against another edition

2.25

dark sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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The idea behind the book was something that could have been made much more interesting and fleshed out, the story itself is somewhat short, making it feel rushed, especially towards the end (though even in the start of the story things feel very "this is happening too fast"). 

The voice acting was good and I did enjoy the different characters in the main cast,

ofc. the "influencer" was insufferable, which was done on purpose, but I wish he was also fleshed out more.

Content warning related: 

there are audible gunshots in the book

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Gun violence, Violence

Moderate: Drug abuse